Hope Quarterly | Issue 29 - Annual Report

200 MILLION SERVED $2 BILLION IN FOOD & SUPPLIES

SPRING

1 Convoy Drive, Springfield, MO 65802

Hope Quarterly is published by Convoy of Hope.

Published: Spring 2023

©2023 Convoy of Hope

Editor-in-Chief | Roger Flessing

Editor | Scott Harrup

Managing Editor | Lindsay Donaldson-Kring

Content Editors | Levi Costello, Annie Denney, Alyssa Everett & Morgan Mills

Reporters | Levi Costello, Annie Denney, India Garrish & Jess Heugel

Photographers | Clayton Gilligan, Jess Heugel, Christian Lamb, Joe Mason, Simen Reinemo & Dylan Stine

Webmaster | Jess Heugel

Creative Director | Josh Carter

Designers | Aaron Davis, Leah Kiser & Misty Olivera

Board of Directors

Dr. Aaron Cole, Court Durkalski, Telvin Jeffries, Dr. Brad Trask, Dominick Garcia, Dr. Tom Carter, Lindsay Howard, Dr. Sam Huddleston, Randy Hurst, Cheryl Jamison, Klayton Ko, Kay Logsdon, Rich Nathan, Tom Rankin, Sherilynn Tounger, Kirk Yamaguchi & Hal Donaldson (President)

Feedback | editor@convoyofhope.org

Website | convoyofhope.org

Twitter | @convoyofhope

Facebook | /convoyofhope

Postmaster | Send address changes to:

Hope Quarterly

1 Convoy Drive, Springfield, MO 65802

When Hope Seems Lost

Tragedy can rob you of hope. In 1969, hope seemed lost when a drunk driver hit my parents’ car head-on. My father was killed instantly, and my mother was hospitalized with broken bones and internal injuries. That year, compassionate people made the difference for me and my family. They helped us gain hope against the backdrop of pain and fear.

For 29 years, Convoy of Hope has linked arms with generous friends like you to restore hope and dignity for people who believe hope is lost. I have seen their faces — a girl holding her crying brother in Afghanistan as war brought poverty and starvation, a mother in drought-stricken northern Kenya desperate to feed her child, a Haitian farmer who repeatedly watched crops fail.

But hope is a powerful thing. Thanks to compassiongivers like you, Convoy of Hope continues to bring the power of hope to millions of people around the world.

On behalf of all those we have had the privilege to serve, and all those who will be served in the coming year — thank you!

Gratefully,

On the Cover: A girl on Coron Island in the Philippines who is one of more than 500,000 children Convoy of Hope is feeding around the world.

Hal Donaldson President, Convoy of Hope

1 Driving Passion: 500,000 Children

Fed on a Regular Basis

In2022, Convoy of Hope saw its Children’s Feeding program provide regular nutritious meals to more than 500,000 children. This significant growth came through the kindness of thousands of Convoy’s friends and the dedication of team members and volunteers at program centers around the world.

Since 2009, a key strategy in Convoy’s commitment to fight poverty and hunger has been to feed children in vulnerable communities. Hope often begins with a meal, and it takes one driving passion to deliver it. Nutritious meals at school are

only part of the story. Convoy strives to ensure all children receive access to clean drinking water, essential vitamins, and deworming medication. As families see their children growing healthier, community trust often invites longer-term Convoy interventions, such as Women’s Empowerment and Agriculture.

“Sometimes it feels like a dream when I share my story and how my life is so different now,” said Nishan, a Children’s Feeding participant in Nepal.

Convoy of Hope is grateful for everyone who is helping children like Nishan experience fulfilled dreams.

2007: 2009: 2011: 2019: 2020: 2022:

Children’s Feeding initiative begins in El Salvador..

More than 20,000 children are being fed nutritious meals.

More than 100,000 children are engaged in feeding program.

Children’s Feeding serves 300,000 children regularly.

Despite pandemic crisis, the number of children surpasses 387,000..

A new milestone is reached as 524,000 children are fed regular meals at school.

Philippines

Philippines

Kenya

1 Driving Passion: 200 Million People Served W

ith the help of caring friends and partners around the world, Convoy of Hope has now served more than 200 million people!

“To think this all started with bags of groceries for a few families in 1994 is overwhelming,” said Convoy of Hope President Hal Donaldson. “We understand that each one of those 200 million individuals is a life that has changed in a positive way by compassionate people giving of their time and resources.”

These goals could not have been reached without the support of

volunteers, donors, partners, and countless others. Each person enables Convoy to serve more people and give them lasting hope.

Serving 200 million people is only the beginning. Together with its growing team and supporters, Convoy will continue to feed children, empower women, teach agriculture, respond to disasters, and give people the help they need most.

1999:

Convoy of Hope serves its 1 millionth person.

Scan here to watch a video of this milestone announcement.

More than 20 million people served since 1994.

2008: Total people served surpasses 30 million.

2009: Convoy of Hope serves its 50 millionth person.

2012: 100 million people served.

2018: 200 million people served.

2022:

1 Driving Passion: $2 Billion in Resources Delivered

Convoy of Hope recently surpassed $2 billion in relief supplies distributed to people in need since Convoy began combating poverty and hunger in 1994. Donors and partners have made that amazing feat possible through the $10 donations that feed a child at school for a month. The $50 contributions that provide a disaster relief kit for a family after a hurricane. And the $150 that delivers a sewing machine for a woman who is beginning a business.

Larger gifts of $10,000 or more make it possible for Convoy to fill a shipping container with relief supplies for communities in need around the world. Through the years, those gifts have fueled the distribution of millions of pounds of resources from corporations that are driven by compassion.

Since receiving its first donations in 1994 — whether cash or gifts in kind — Convoy has committed itself to transparency and careful record keeping. Convoy of Hope is honored to be ranked among Charity Navigator’s list of “10 Charities With the Most Consecutive 4-Star Ratings.”

You can learn more about Convoy of Hope’s efforts and financial practices by visiting convoyofhope.org.

1 Driving Passion: Thank You!

At Convoy of Hope, a simple equation summarizes the commitment of team members, volunteers, and partners around the world to combat hunger and poverty and begin to move the needle of progress toward a better tomorrow:

500,000 Children Fed Regularly +

200 Million People Served Since 1994 +

$2 Billion in Total Resources Distributed =

1 Driving Passion

An impact like this is only possible because of you — and supporters like you — who choose to make the world a better place.

BY SCOTT HARRUP

his celebrated “I Have a Dream” speech, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called on his audience to “hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.” Few statements have better expressed the power of hope. A single stone of hope can dispel a mountain of despair.

During 2022, the world searched for hope amid a continuing pandemic, the war in Ukraine, a growing hunger crisis in Africa, and the annual bout of hurricanes and typhoons. Food insecurity and poverty were further highlighted as the global population crested 8 billion people.

Against that mountain of despair, Convoy of Hope worked throughout the year to refine and enlarge the initiatives within its corporate stone of hope.

“You guys give us hope,” said Randy Carlson, a local pastor on Pine Island, Florida’s largest coastal island that was devastated by

Today Sasha and Misha oversee and coordinate relief logistics and distributions in Poland and Ukraine.

Hurricane Ian and cut off from the mainland. Convoy of Hope brought in boatloads of food, water, and supplies as its Disaster Services teams served communities across southern Florida.

For refugees Sasha and her husband, Misha, the Ukrainian war left them with an uncertain future. “The situation seemed hopeless from the beginning, but it turned out to be good for us,” she said. Their journey led them to Poland, where they now serve by overseeing and coordinating relief logistics and distributions in Poland and Ukraine.

“Food has this power… it’s an expression of love like no other.”

— Simon Majumdar, celebrity chef and friend of Convoy of Hope

“As I lay in that house, bleeding, I prayed to God to let me get back to my family. I should have died, but I survived!”

— Svetlana, Ukraine, refugee served by Convoy of Hope

“Convoy of Hope, they paid us a favor back in 2017 after Hurricane Irma. I felt like it was my duty to pay the favor back.”

— Robert, Florida, Hurricane Ian volunteer

“Sometimes hope is just a listening ear and a piece of fruit.”

— Fiona, Spain, Women’s Empowerment volunteer

The power of hope glows in the smiles of children enjoying nutritious meals at Children’s Feeding program centers throughout the year. In Honduras, Rosmery has a wide grin because she’s no longer eating food she found at the local garbage dump. “Everything will be alright,” she said with a new hopeful outlook.

For Gloria, her hopes and dreams of becoming a professional cook were restored. To provide for her child, she had washed clothes, sold what she could, and tried to scrape by. Convoy of Hope’s Women’s Empowerment program in Guatemala gave her financial and business training and put her through Convoy’s culinary school. “I am so thankful for Convoy of Hope, all of the leaders, and all of the people who make these projects possible,” she said.

“This is the best day ever,” a young girl said as she joined hundreds of children receiving new shoes at a Convoy Community Event in Albany, Oregon.

“I learned a lot, and I gained a lot of knowledge about family and nutrition. I shared it with others. That’s why I'm very happy that I met Convoy.”

— Dyna, Philippines, Women’s Empowerment participant

“[Bahamian farmers] produce big results with little resources. Imagine what can be accomplished with more resources.”

— Kathi, agriculture specialist volunteering with Convoy of Hope in the Bahamas

‘I am so thankful for Convoy of Hope, all of the leaders, and all of the people who make these projects possible.’

— Gloria, Guatemala

Guests of Honor also received community and career services, meals, groceries, health services, and more. Tens of thousands of children receive new shoes each year through Convoy’s Community Events and Rural Initiatives.

Pastor Chad Payne of Woodstock, Alabama, said Convoy of Hope came alongside his church and trained them to serve their community. Like many rural communities, Woodstock grapples with low incomes, teen pregnancies, and drug addiction. Convoy of Hope’s Rural Initiatives has provided training sessions and assisted them in meeting local needs.

In Nicaragua, Porfirio lost his job during the pandemic. Unable to find more work in

“Since I was little, I’ve always thought cooking was interesting. Cooking for my family is one of my favorite things.”

— Jeferson, El Salvador, teen served through Children’s Feeding

“I never give up — giving up is like drinking poison.”

— Bhakt, Nepal, Children’s Feeding participant

“I wouldn’t have dared do this on my own.”

— Marivel, El Salvador, a thriving business owner thanks to Convoy of Hope

his community, he joined Convoy of Hope’s Agriculture program. He quickly learned the skills and obtained the resources to turn his life around. Soon, his business was booming, and he could again provide for his family.

“With the help of Convoy, I have gotten ahead with my crops,” Porfirio said. “Dedicating myself to agriculture and acquiring this knowledge has given me a way out of a difficult situation.”

Hope is a powerful thing. Every day, compassionate friends help Convoy of Hope use that power to fight poverty, hunger, and disaster — to wield a growing “stone of hope” against the world’s mountain of despair.

I would like to learn more about planned giving and Hope Society.

I would like to receive mobile updates from Convoy of Hope.*

*Message frequency may vary. Message & Data rates may apply. Reply STOP to 68828 to cancel.

Hope in Every Storm®

In

response to Hurricane Ida, Convoy of Hope’s relief and recovery teams continue to work in places like LaPlace, Louisiana.

Convoy’s long-term response includes the distribution of groceries, home goods, and hot meals to survivors.

AJ Gonzales’ home was so badly damaged by Ida that he and his family of seven had to live in a two-bedroom house for nine months. He received the help he needed at an earlier long-term recovery event and returned as a volunteer.

“To see Convoy still out here over a year later, loving on the community, [inspires me] in some way to give back,” he said.

In the United States ...

15,094,998 Pounds of Resources Delivered

756,275 People Served

36 New Responses

(This is a new record!)

6 Active Long-Term Responses

Around the World ...

3,861,160 People Served

39 New Responses

Children's Feeding

More than

533,000

Children Fed

you KNOW?

Convoy of Hope's Global Program serves in 37 countries through more than 3,800 program centers.

Philippines

Hope for Every Child

When Yvonne found out she was pregnant with twins, it was not the exciting moment it should have been. She and her husband hardly had the resources to raise their other two children in Ethiopia. After the twins, Ahmed and Alemu, were born, the family struggled to put food on the table.

But when the boys were old enough to be enrolled in school, Yvonne discovered Convoy of Hope partners would be feeding her children breakfast and lunch at school.

Yvonne can’t say enough about the program center. “It’s not only about feeding, but also sanitation and hygiene, childcare, and discipline. My children don’t ever eat without washing their hands.”

Hope in Every Harvest

Ina village in Nepal, Uttam and his wife are successful farmers. Uttam also serves as a local partner in Convoy of Hope’s Agriculture initiative.

“I’m engaged in bringing change in agriculture, like tunnel farming and animal husbandry,” Uttam said. “In my village, we used to purchase vegetables from the market. Now we get enough vegetables in our house that we are able to sell.”

With Uttam’s help, Convoy’s local program is helping farmers find new ways to grow new crops, and the community is seeing record harvests. Convoy’s plan is to ultimately provide sustainable techniques that will last for generations.

Women's Empowerment

C Hope for Every Woman

andida lives in El Salvador. She works hard to raise her two children, Miguel and Marcos. As a second-generation single mother, Candida knows that the right opportunities can make a life-changing difference for years to come.

“Leading a home alone as a woman is difficult,” she said. “That’s how it was for my mother.”

More than

34,900

Women & Girls

Empowered

That’s why Candida began building a better future for her children as soon as she had the chance. She joined Convoy’s Women’s Empowerment program and learned how to run a business. She began selling clothes, allowing her to grow her company and support her children.

“I now can get ahead with my business thanks to the goodhearted people who lead these programs,” she said.

Rural Initiatives

Hope for Communities

A

fter 19 tornados hit parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas last November, communities suffered widespread damage and flash flooding. Convoy distributed food, water, hygiene kits, and cleanup supplies.

Pastor Matthew Kelley of Chicota Assembly in Arthur City, Texas, quickly offered his help. Matthew had attended Convoy’s Rural Initiatives training in 2019, which taught him how to build relationships in the community.

“That training gave us direction, because this was our first response to a tornado,” Matthew said. He contacted the local fire department, letting them know his church could house people and provide meals. In response, people called to ask what they could do or if they could donate supplies.

443,049 People Served

3,192 Organizations Engaged

76 Communities Reached

55,342 Guests Served

93,118 Bags of Groceries Distributed

820 Organizations Engaged

Hope in Every Community Community Events

Disaster Services

Ukrainian war refugees, African communities on the edge of famine, and U.S. hurricane survivors all have received critical help through Convoy of Hope’s Disaster Services team. Consistently among the first to respond to crises, Convoy’s highly trained staff and volunteers help hurting people get back on their feet. Convoy is committed to helping as much as possible for as long as possible in the most challenging environments.

Approximately half of all deaths of children under 5 can be linked to undernutrition. A nutritious meal coupled with clean drinking water opens doors to better health and consistent physical and mental development. Convoy of Hope provides regular nutritious meals in schools around the world. More than 500,000 children are discovering renewed hope as they experience daily wins over hunger.

Hope Education Network

By providing curricula and other resources to participating colleges, Convoy of Hope is preparing the next generation to address the world’s compelling challenges with help and hope.

Agriculture

Convoy of Hope’s Agriculture program is equipping vulnerable farmers and families with skills, tools, and seeds to increase lifesustaining crops. Of the tens of thousands of meals harvested each year, a portion is used to support Convoy’s Children’s Feeding program. Convoy’s agriculture specialists teach long-term sustainable practices that help break the cycle of poverty and promote community food security.

Women’s Empowerment

When a woman generates an income, it not only benefits her — the entire community profits. Through training techniques and loving support, Convoy equips women to start and successfully operate their own businesses. Convoy encourages women and girls around the world to realize their value and reach their potential. This gives them the opportunity to positively impact the lives of their future families and their communities.

Community Events

Since its founding in 1994, Convoy of Hope has worked with civic organizations, churches, businesses, and government agencies to create Community Events that bring help and hope to thousands in need. Each Guest of Honor receives needed resources and services. Convoy’s team works with dedicated local volunteers to deliver free groceries, health services, family portraits, career services, children’s shoes, and much more.

Rural Initiatives

Convoy of Hope reaches people exactly where they are. Poverty and hunger have gained a devastating edge in rural communities. By partnering with local churches to offer resources, training, mentoring, and coaching, Convoy of Hope helps people effectively discover and implement solutions to the issues in their local context. Convoy believes increased presence and partnership with local leaders help strengthen and enrich entire neighborhoods and towns.

Convoy of Hope continues to leave compassionate footprints around the world. A few recent highlights …

Launch of Children’s Feeding program in Colombia

Long-term recovery following Hurricanes Ian and Ida

Resources for 240 rural communities across seven states

Feeding families and children in Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic

16 Burkina Faso program centers serving 1,800 women and more than 8,500 children

Continued food relief and water solutions for Kenyan families hit hard by Africa’s food crisis and drought

More than 2.7 million people in 16 countries now served in Ukraine region

More than 412,000 meals to families in Lebanon

Giving the Power of Hope

Randy and Anita live in Southern California and spend time in Queensland, Australia, where Anita is originally from. They have seen the power of hope transform their lives, and they want to help bring about that transformation for others.

After Haiti’s devastating earthquake in 2010, they went to the country to see Convoy of Hope’s response firsthand. At Convoy’s warehouse, they saw a box that a woman traveling with them had personally

packed and signed at her church months earlier. It was about to be distributed to earthquake survivors.

“To see the work that was done many months earlier actually go where it was supposed to go was a huge impact for us,” Randy says. “We know that Convoy of Hope does what they say they are going to do.”

Over the following years, they returned to Haiti twice to see the long-term results of Convoy’s work. One memory that stands

out is the watermelon they enjoyed from a field where Convoy had helped a local farmer get back on his feet.

“When we go back and see the change ... that’s the hope that’s being provided,” Anita says. Randy and Anita are helping perpetuate that hope around the world through a Donor Advised Fund they established after the sale of a company they started over 20 years ago.

“Our hope is that we will be able to do more now with our giving than ever before,” they say. “It’s not a one and done for us; we don’t want to make a large gift and then never give again. We want to give every year and continue to grow that support.”

*This figure includes the Convoy of Hope Foundation. **2020 contributions include donations from our COVID-19 response and major disasters.

Visit us online at: convoyofhope.org

Mail: 1 Convoy Drive

Springfield, MO 65802-2213

P: (417) 823-8998

F: (417) 823-8244

Donations: P.O. Box 1125 Springfield, MO 65801

John Doe Family 10203 West Phelps Cincinnati, OH 61210

CONVOY OF HOPE GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS & TRAINING CENTER

BUILDING DEDICATION | OCTOBER 2023